How to Write a UX Problem Statement: A Hubspot-Style Guide

Using a Hubspot-inspired framework to write a UX problem statement helps you define user needs clearly, align your team, and keep every product decision focused on solving the right problem.

Below you will learn a practical, step-by-step method for crafting strong UX problem statements, based on the structure and best practices demonstrated in the original Hubspot article on UX problem statements.

What Is a UX Problem Statement in Hubspot Terms?

A UX problem statement is a concise description of a user, their need, and the obstacle preventing them from meeting that need. In a Hubspot-style approach, the statement also connects that user problem to measurable business impact.

A good statement guides designers, product managers, and developers so they solve a real problem instead of jumping straight into random features.

Why a Hubspot-Inspired UX Problem Statement Matters

Before writing a single interface element, you need a shared understanding of what you are solving. The Hubspot method emphasizes:

• Clarity: Everyone understands the user and their goal.
• Focus: Teams avoid scope creep and feature bloat.
• Alignment: Stakeholders agree on success criteria.
• Measurability: You can track whether the solution works.

With this foundation, ideation becomes faster and more targeted, and trade-offs are easier to discuss.

Core Elements of a Hubspot UX Problem Statement

A strong UX problem statement usually includes four key parts:

1. User description – Who is experiencing the problem?
2. User goal or need – What are they trying to achieve?
3. Obstacle or pain point – What stands in their way?
4. Business impact – Why this matters for your organization?

The Hubspot article shows that a simple, human-readable sentence or short paragraph can capture all of these pieces when written carefully.

1. Define the User Clearly

Start by describing a specific user segment. Avoid vague phrases like “all users.” Instead, specify:

• Role (for example, small business owner, marketing manager)
• Context (for example, working on a tight deadline, on mobile)
• Relevant behaviors (for example, checks analytics daily)

This mirrors the persona-driven approach common in Hubspot-style content and product documentation.

2. State the User’s Goal

Next, express what the user wants to do in simple language. Effective UX problem statements focus on:

• Actions (“track campaign performance weekly”)
• Outcomes (“understand which channels work best”)
• Motivations (“optimize spend and prove ROI”)

Stay away from describing the interface the user expects; focus on the outcome they care about.

3. Describe the Pain Point or Barrier

Then capture what prevents the user from reaching their goal. Following the style highlighted by Hubspot, write about obstacles such as:

• Complex or fragmented workflows
• Missing or confusing information
• Time-consuming manual tasks
• Errors and inconsistencies in data

Your wording should make the frustration easy to empathize with, even for team members outside UX.

4. Connect to Business Goals

The original Hubspot resource stresses the value of tying user pain to business outcomes. This link helps prioritize work and justify investment. Examples include:

• Lost conversions or revenue
• Increased support tickets
• Churn or decreased product adoption
• Internal inefficiency and higher costs

Write this connection explicitly: describe how the unresolved problem harms retention, acquisition, or efficiency.

Hubspot-Style Formula for a UX Problem Statement

Based on the structure shown in the Hubspot article, you can use this adaptable template:

“[User type] who [context] need a way to [user goal] because currently [pain point]. This leads to [negative business impact], so we need to [high-level direction] to improve [key metric].”

This formula keeps the problem statement user-centered while acknowledging the organization’s priorities.

Example UX Problem Statement Using the Formula

Here is an example aligned with the style of the Hubspot content:

“Marketing managers at mid-sized companies who run multiple campaigns each quarter need a simple way to compare performance across channels, because currently they must export data from several tools and manually reconcile metrics. This leads to reporting delays and poor budget allocation, reducing campaign ROI, so we need to consolidate performance insights in one view to improve decision speed and return on ad spend.”

This single paragraph captures a user, their goal, a clear barrier, and why the business should care.

Step-by-Step Process to Write Your Own Hubspot UX Problem Statement

Use this practical workflow to create a problem statement your entire team can rely on.

Step 1: Gather User Evidence

Before writing, collect insights that mirror the research focus promoted in Hubspot resources:

• User interviews and quotes
• Usability test findings
• Analytics and behavioral data
• Support tickets and feedback

Highlight patterns in frustrations, workarounds, and repeated complaints.

Step 2: Draft a First Version

Using the formula above, write a rough statement that includes:

1. A concrete user segment
2. Their primary goal
3. The main barrier they face
4. The business cost of that barrier

Do not worry about perfect wording yet; focus on accuracy.

Step 3: Review with Stakeholders

Share the draft with designers, product managers, engineers, and customer-facing teams. Following the collaborative style often seen in Hubspot case material, ask them:

• If the user is described clearly enough
• Whether the goal reflects real tasks
• If any important pain points are missing
• How the business impact could be measured

Incorporate the most important feedback while keeping the statement short.

Step 4: Refine for Clarity and Focus

Now edit for precision. The UX writing approach similar to Hubspot suggests:

• Using plain language, not internal jargon
• Keeping sentences short and direct
• Removing extra details that do not change priorities
• Focusing on one primary problem per statement

If you uncover multiple distinct problems, create a separate statement for each.

Step 5: Validate and Revisit Regularly

Once your solution ships, continue validating the problem statement:

• Check whether users still experience the same barrier.
• Monitor metrics tied to the problem.
• Update the statement when the product or market changes.

This ongoing refinement reflects the iterative mindset emphasized in Hubspot’s broader product and UX guidance.

Using a Hubspot Problem Statement Across Your Workflow

After writing your UX problem statement, make it highly visible so it shapes daily decisions.

• Add it to design briefs and product requirement documents.
• Include it in kickoff meetings and sprint planning.
• Post it near wireframes, prototypes, and design files.
• Reference it in user testing sessions to stay on track.

When trade-offs arise, refer back to the statement and ask, “Does this choice move us closer to solving that problem?”

Further Reading and Support

You can review the original Hubspot article on UX problem statements here: Hubspot UX problem statement resource. It offers examples and additional context for teams building user-centered products.

If you need hands-on help implementing this approach in your own stack, optimization specialists at Consultevo can support UX, SEO, and conversion strategy work using similar structured methods.

By following this Hubspot-style framework, your UX problem statements will become a reliable foundation for designing solutions that truly help users while driving measurable business outcomes.

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